On Nov. 15, at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, Professor Park Nam-kyu from Sungkyunkwan University and Wolfgang Marquardt, former chairman of the Jülich Research Center, discuss 'energy transition'. /Courtesy of The Korean Academy of Science and Technology

In the first half of 2024, Germany's renewable energy generation reached 140 terawatt-hours (TWh), achieving the highest level ever. The share of renewable energy in generation increased to 60%, up from 55.7% in the first half of 2023, establishing Germany as a leader in energy transition. In contrast, South Korea's share of renewable energy in total generation was only 9% as of 2023, showing significant differences in the pace of energy transition compared to Germany.

Germany and South Korea face the common challenge of 'energy transition' under different conditions. Prominent scholars, Professor Park Nam-kyu of Sungkyunkwan University and Wolfgang Marquardt, former chairman of the Forschungszentrum Jülich and a leader in science and technology policy in Germany, held a discussion on the 15th at the Sungkyunkwan University campus in Seoul.

Former Chairman Marquardt visited South Korea to attend a conference co-hosted by The Korean Academy of Science and Technology and the Leopoldina Academy in Germany. The Leopoldina Academy represents eight regional academies and has over 1,700 members, including 152 Nobel laureates, who are among Germany's top researchers in science and technology.

On that day, the two scholars discussed the current and future aspects of energy transition, as well as possibilities and challenges for cooperation between the two countries. Former Chairman Marquardt noted, 'Germany excluded nuclear power from its power grid starting in 2023 and plans to phase out coal-fired power plants by 2038 at the latest, already operating more than 60% of its power grid on renewable energy,' adding that 'South Korea is seeking to maintain stable power supply centered around nuclear while exploring renewable energy transition.' He highlighted the differences in energy transition policies between Germany and South Korea.

Professor Park commented, 'Both countries have many lessons to learn from each other,' stating that 'Germany likely has many lessons from the process of increasing the share of renewable energy, while South Korea, having a low share of renewable energy, should consider Germany's examples.'

World-renowned scholar in the field of Taeyang cells, Professor Park Nam-kyu from Sungkyunkwan University. /Courtesy of The Korean Academy of Science and Technology

The two scholars first discussed the specific achievements that can result from technological cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the solar energy industry. Professor Park stated, 'Germany has made significant advancements in laboratory-scale and pilot-stage solar cell technology, and South Korea can leverage its experience in industrializing OLED technology similar to solar cells to achieve large-scale industrialization of solar cells. Combining Germany's technological prowess with South Korea's industrial capabilities can yield significant results in the solar energy sector.'

The two scholars also paid attention to the shared challenges faced by both countries. One of them is the geographical mismatch between the production and consumption of renewable energy. South Korea needs to bring energy produced mainly in the southern region to the capital area, while Germany must distribute energy produced in the northern region to various areas. To minimize volatility and ensure economic feasibility during the energy transfer process, both countries must find optimal technologies in power grid design and operation, making technological cooperation very significant.

Former Chairman Marquardt emphasized the necessity of hydrogen technology in this context. He said, 'Solar and wind energy cannot always be used stably, and a system for trading renewable energy globally will emerge.' He added that 'continuous research on energy carrier technologies is essential, and particularly, liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC) are considered an ideal solution as they can effectively solve two issues while utilizing existing infrastructure.'

The common challenges faced by South Korea and Germany in energy transition go beyond just technical issues. Professor Park asserted, 'Since South Korea still has a low share of renewable energy, it needs to set ambitious goals like Germany and design policies and technologies to achieve them,' emphasizing the lessons that can be learned from Germany's experience.

A scientist leading the fields of energy and process systems and a German leader in science and technology policy, Wolfgang Marquardt, former chairman of the Jülich Research Center. /Courtesy of The Korean Academy of Science and Technology

Former Chairman Marquardt added, 'Germany has set a challenging goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Some people consider this an overly ambitious target, but it is necessary to urgently mitigate climate change and achieve net zero.' He cautioned that 'if technology, regulation, and market design are not harmonized, unexpected economic burdens could arise. The increase in electricity prices could weaken industrial competitiveness, making close cooperation among policymakers, industry practitioners, and the scientific community more important than ever.'

Currently, Germany is facing concerns that its industrial competitiveness might weaken due to rising electricity prices while increasing the share of renewable energy. Consequently, the German government is considering a plan to distribute the costs of expanding the power grid among households and lowering electricity rates to the minimum level in Europe. Robert Habeck, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Action, suggested introducing subsidies to reduce the energy cost burden on consumers and corporations, striving to mitigate the economic challenges posed by energy transition.

As the two scholars discussed technical and policy challenges, they also agreed that energy transition is not a short-term task. This highlighted the necessity of long-term investment and systematic cooperation, in addition to technological development. Former Chairman Marquardt stated, 'Energy transition is a long-term process that takes 10 to 15 years,' adding that 'establishing stable political agendas, financial support, and sustainable cooperation structures is essential for success.'

Professor Park concurred, saying, 'For substantial technologies to emerge, it is crucial to establish a cooperative structure that connects research and industrialization,' adding that 'if governmental policy support is in place, both countries can move toward a better future.'